Picture Of The Week 07-02-07

Where: Outer Banks, NC • Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)

Notes: The first glimpse of this unique foot and a half long waterbird working its way up the beach in the shallows of the surf brought back memories of my youth. Many years ago as an early teen on my first birding trip to the coast ever, I had hoped to see one of these unique avian fishers. I had intensely studied my bird book before that maiden trip to Cape Romain (NWR) in South Carolina and the Black Skimmer was high on my wish list. We had hardly left the dock that morning on the boat ride to the refuge, when a "Skimmer" flew parallel to the boat dragging only its extra long lower mandible (beak) in the smooth water along the shoals. This was the most amazing technique for catching small fish I had ever seen! The slow shallow rhythm of its four foot wing span kept it gliding just above the surface. This bird's lower jaw is hinged, so if it collides with something solid under the surface of the water while fishing, its lower beak will simply fold back.

There is growing concern of beach erosion and the impact on wildlife caused by motor vehicles driving on our beaches. Many animals, birds and others, use these areas exclusively for feeding and/or reproductive purposes; population numbers are suffering as a result. In North Carolina alone Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Pea Island NWR and parts of Ocracoke Island have already prohibited driving on the beaches. Other beaches have seasonal restrictions from the first of May through the entire month of September. Areas important to wildlife and nesting colonies of shorebirds are roped off and are clearly marked with signs. Trespassers can be fined up to $3000.00 for violations.